영어 모의고사 (자동 편성)

Until last spring, Minji ①**rarely** thought twice about tossing a paper cup into the trash after finishing her coffee. Environmental issues seemed ②**distant**, something scientists and politicians should handle rather than an ordinary student like her. That changed when her class was assigned a documentary about plastic waste drifting through the ocean, footage she initially expected to find boring. Instead, watching seabirds mistake plastic fragments for food left her strangely ③**comforted**, and she found herself thinking about the assignment long after class ended. The next morning, almost without deciding to, she slipped her old tumbler into her backpack instead of buying a disposable cup on the way to school. It felt like a small, ④**meaningless** gesture at first. However, as weeks passed, she realized that consistently choosing the tumbler, declining a plastic straw, and reusing a shopping bag were quietly ⑤**adding up**. Small choices, she discovered, become meaningful once repeated.

Soyeon joined an online study group chat where dozens of students planned a class project together every evening. When one member suggested skipping a required survey step to save time, several others quickly agreed, and no one raised any objections. Soyeon privately worried that skipping the survey might weaken their project, but seeing everyone else nodding along, she stayed silent rather than risk sounding difficult. The group proceeded confidently, convinced their shortcut was harmless, until their teacher pointed out serious gaps once the project was submitted. Afterward, Soyeon learned about groupthink, a concept introduced by psychologist Irving Janis, describing how tightly connected groups often suppress doubts in order to maintain harmony and reach quick agreement. She realized that ___________.

Many companies now advertise themselves as environmentally responsible, yet a growing number of these claims turn out to be misleading. This practice, known as greenwashing, _______________. A company might launch a recycled-packaging line while continuing to pollute rivers through its main factories, creating a false impression of genuine change. Such tactics deceive well-intentioned consumers who wish to shop responsibly but lack the tools to verify corporate claims. In contrast, truly sustainable businesses publish detailed, independently verified data about their emissions and supply chains, allowing outsiders to check their progress. Therefore, shoppers should look beyond vague labels like green or natural and instead search for recognized certifications, transparent reports, and measurable targets. Without such scrutiny, greenwashing will keep flourishing, undermining public trust and slowing the broader shift toward an economy that truly protects the planet.

Carbon neutrality refers to a state in which the amount of greenhouse gases a country or company releases into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount it removes, resulting in zero net emissions. Achieving this goal typically requires several sequential stages rather than a single sudden action. First, organizations attempt to reduce emissions directly by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Next, they improve efficiency throughout their operations, minimizing the energy wasted during production and transportation. Only after these direct measures have been maximized do most organizations turn to _______________. Critics argue, however, that some companies exploit offsetting too early, using it to avoid making genuine reductions. Therefore, experts insist that a credible roadmap must always prioritize actual emission cuts before relying on compensation.

Behavioral economists use the term status quo bias to describe a tendency to prefer the present situation over a new alternative, even when the alternative would bring greater benefits. This bias helps explain why many households hesitate to switch to renewable energy, such as installing solar panels on their roofs. Although solar panels can lower electricity bills over time, homeowners often stick with their current power source because it feels safe and requires no immediate effort. In contrast, switching demands research, upfront cost, and trust in unfamiliar technology, all of which can seem risky compared with doing nothing. For example, a neighborhood association might repeatedly postpone a vote on shared solar panels, not because the plan is flawed, but because members are reluctant to leave their routine. Therefore, boosting renewable adoption may depend less on proving its advantages and more on _______________.

Psychologists have long studied how people determine their own worth by looking at those around them. (A) Festinger's theory explains this tendency, showing that individuals often compare themselves with others to evaluate their own abilities and opinions. (B) When people compare themselves with someone who seems more accomplished, a process called upward comparison, they often experience envy and lower self-esteem. (C) Social media intensifies this effect by constantly presenting curated images of other people's seemingly perfect lives.

Climate change is often described as a challenge that affects the entire planet equally, yet a closer look reveals a more complicated picture. (A) Wealthy, industrialized nations have historically released the largest share of greenhouse gases while building their economies, yet developing nations, which contributed comparatively little, frequently suffer the most severe droughts and floods. This gap between responsibility and suffering raises a serious ethical question that science alone cannot answer. (B) However, the concept of climate justice reminds us that the causes and consequences of climate change are distributed unevenly across the globe. (C) For example, a farming community in a low-income country may lose its entire harvest to an unusual flood, even though its members have never owned a car or flown on a plane. Therefore, tackling climate change requires more than new technology; it demands fair policies supporting the very communities least responsible for causing the crisis.

주어진 문장: This spreading of feelings was traditionally assumed to require physical cues like facial expressions or vocal tone. Have you ever noticed your mood shifting after scrolling through a friend's gloomy post online? ( ① ) This phenomenon, known as emotional contagion, refers to the tendency of one person's feelings to spread to others nearby, almost like a cold passing between classmates. ( ② ) Psychologists once studied this effect mainly through face-to-face interactions, such as tone of voice. ( ③ ) However, researchers have discovered that emotional contagion also occurs online, where only text or images are exchanged, without any physical presence at all. ( ④ ) For instance, when someone posts a negative comment beneath a cheerful photo, the comments that follow often turn noticeably more negative in tone. In contrast, a single kind comment can shift an entire thread toward positivity within minutes. ( ⑤ ) This suggests that emotions online spread through carefully chosen words alone. Consequently, many experts now argue that being mindful of what we post matters more than we typically assume.

주어진 문장: After all, ignoring proven facts might seem like an irrational thing to do. When people encounter solid scientific evidence about climate change, we might expect them to accept it without hesitation. ( ① ) However, many individuals still dismiss or downplay such evidence, and psychologists explain this pattern through a concept called motivated reasoning. ( ② ) Motivated reasoning refers to the tendency to process information in a way that protects one's existing beliefs, identity, or lifestyle rather than to pursue objective truth. ( ③ ) For example, a person whose livelihood depends on the fossil fuel industry may unconsciously search for reasons to doubt climate data, even while claiming to value scientific accuracy. ( ④ ) This happens because accepting uncomfortable facts can threaten a person's sense of self or demand costly lifestyle changes. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, simply presenting more data rarely persuades a committed skeptic. Instead, experts suggest connecting climate information to values the person already holds, such as family safety or economic stability, so that acceptance feels natural rather than threatening.

주어진 문장: This is precisely why scientists treat these thresholds with such urgency, rather than viewing them as distant, abstract possibilities. Climate scientists frequently warn about tipping points, thresholds beyond which a small additional change triggers a large, often irreversible shift in the climate system. ( ① ) Unlike gradual warming, which unfolds steadily over decades, crossing a tipping point can produce dramatic consequences within a short period. ( ② ) For instance, as Arctic ice melts, it exposes darker ocean water that absorbs more sunlight than reflective ice, accelerating further melting in a self-reinforcing cycle. ( ③ ) Similarly, scientists worry that a major ocean current, which currently redistributes heat across the planet, could slow dramatically if enough freshwater from melting glaciers dilutes the surrounding seawater. ( ④ ) Once such thresholds are crossed, restoring the original balance may become nearly impossible, even if emissions are later reduced. ( ⑤ ) Therefore, researchers argue that preventing these transitions matters more than merely slowing average temperature increases. Identifying how close each system stands to its threshold remains one of the most urgent challenges in climate research.